High times and clean seas Noon position: 32 41.54 South, 86 39.97 West Another glassy morning, water slick and still, with an almost oily sheen indicative of these ocean dynamics. We’re in a high pressure system, about 600 miles from the center of the accumulation zone. Light, variable winds force us to motor along, occasionally grabbing ahold of opportune gusts [&hellip

(Drifters) Trapped in the South Pacific Gyre Day 5, and we’ve all settled into the rhythm of a life at sea – cooking, cleaning, sharing meals, waking up at all hours, sleeping, trawling, and starting all over again. The worst of seasickness has passed, as formerly ashen-faced crewmembers are now able to laugh, read, and cook – 3 tell tale [&hellip

23.03S,83.00W First Trawl The Hi-Speed Trawl, our original design for optimizing time at sea by collecting surface samples at 8 knots, has just come out of the water. We towed it for 55 nautical miles outside the accumulation zone of the South Pacific Subtropical Gyre. The result, two large visable fragments among a handful of small fish, jellyfish and other plankton. [&hellip

Robinson Crusoe Island – and the Scottish lure of the Bag Monster 33.38S, 78.49W 502 miles and 4 days from Valdivia, Chile. We arrive on Robinson Crusoe Island, a volcanic pinnacle rising over 500 meters above the sea, and only 7 miles long from its furthest points. 6:00am the Sea Dragon idles into the protected harbor, “It’s looks larger than [&hellip

Noontime position: 37 54.7 South, 74 04.3 West We’re underway! 11 of us stand on deck, soaking in the stunning view as we navigate our way through the gorgeous channels that wend lazily from Valdivia to the sea. Picturesque little villages break up the thick, green forests bordering us on all sides. A perfect day for setting sail — and [&hellip